Stiefvater has fans galore, thanks to her werewolf-inspired Shiver, Linger and Forever. Now she turns to a tiny, fictional island off a Celtic coast and to the capall uisce (CAPple ISHka), flesh-eating water-horses the locals capture, train, then race annually on Nov. 1st.

For Sean Kendrick, the capall uisce and the race are life, love and purpose. For Puck Connolly, the race offers a way to keep her family together — even if she has to ride her unmagical pony Dove to do so; even if she must fight to ride with men and boys.

The Scorpio Races has all the excitement and suspense of life-or-death competitiveness — but it has much, much more. “It’s beautiful,” Puck observes of Thisby, her island home, “in the sort of way you never get used to.” Yes, it is, and so is this novel: the sea, rain and winter imbue every word, saturating character and atmosphere with intensely observed, strong and subtle beauty.

Indomitable, down-to-earth Puck is as brave as she’s vulnerable; and taciturn Sean (“the dead speak more than he does”) is a nicely complex, sympathetic hero. Stiefvater renders both struggling protagonists of this dramatic, romantic tale with compassion and intelligence — and she creates her world so fully that it’s a delight to lose oneself in it. Highly recommended.

THIS DARK ENDEAVOUR: THE APPRENTICESHIP OF VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN

By Kenneth Oppel

Harper, 298 pages, $19.99,

Ages 10 —13

In the realm of fan fiction, Oppel posits the adolescence that led to the Frankenstein so memorably imagined by Mary Shelley. When his brother becomes ill, Victor appeals to an occult apothecary for a remedy. Lichen by moonlight; coelacanth from a subterranean river; the flesh of his own fingers — in a series of hair’s-breadth escapes, Victor and his friends bring them all so the apothecary can brew them up — only to find he’s betrayed them. Slight creepiness, lots of made-for-movie action (film rights have already been sold) and easily accessible characters make this a quick, eventful read. Shortlisted for the Governor General’s Literary Awards.

TWILIGHT ROBBERY

By Frances Hardinge

Macmillan, 523 pages, $19.99

Ages 10 and up

In this sequel to the acclaimed Fly By Night (now in paperback, $9.99), Mosca, her conman sidekick Eponymous Clent and her deadly goose Saracen take refuge in the city of Toll. When they try to work a scheme on the mayor’s daughter, they’re caught up in the deadly night city of the Jinglers — ruthless Locksmiths who are the real toll-takers terrorizing the city. Rambunctious, good-humoured, slapstick, Hardinge’s story has its share of dark alleys, skulduggerous creeps and ghostly atmosphere. Plot-driven, inventive and cheerfully melodramatic.

ANCIENT EGYPT: TALES OF GODS AND PHAROHS

Retold and illustrated by Marcia Williams

Candlewick, 50 pages, $19.00

Ages 5 — 9

Mummies, curses and the underworld are only part of what make these tales so mysterious and compelling. Williams tells the stories of Ra, Isis, Seth, Tutankhamen and more in her characteristic frieze-like, comic strip format. Deep, sumptuous colours make her miniatures fairly glow — a rich backdrop to her kooky, often irreverent figures, who bring larger-than-life personality to their roles despite their tiny, comic strip stature. An excellent introduction to ancient Egyptian lore, this is full of humour, robust storytelling and sound information.

MY NAME IS ELIZABETH

By Annika Dunklee, illustrated by Matthew Forsythe

Kids Can, 32 pages, $16.95

Ages 3 — 6

Elizabeth likes her name, all nine letters of it. She disapproves of every diminutive, but what’s she to do? People call her Liz or Lizzy, Betsy or Beth. Only when she introduces herself by her full, first, last and four middle names do they really take notice — and realize that “Elizabeth” is just the right length after all. Forsythe’s pale blue, black and orange illustrations focus attention perfectly — on Elizabeth, disdaining the nicknames, approving the full name. Neighbourhood characters populate the pages with expressive panache — and appropriately for the season, the story ends with a family pumpkin.

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